Cab Guru acquires dispatch systems supplier Cordic and creates new CabFusion brand

Mark Bursa

Cab Guru, the taxi fleet management service co-owned by a number of leading private hire operators, has acquired dispatch systems provider Cordic Technology for an undisclosed sum.

The move brings the two companies together under a new umbrella company called CabFusion, which the new owners say will create “a powerful, networked ecosystem that benefits the independent licensed taxi and private hire industry, end-to-end”.

Under the deal, both Cab Guru and Cordic will continue to operate as separate business units. while working together to deliver greater collaboration across the industry.

Cab Guru chairman Joe Polley, who also runs leading London operator Parker Car service, said: “Our mission is to establish a national services and technology business for independent licensed private hire fleets and provide an open, national marketplace with unrivalled reach.”

Phil Bailey, vice-chairman of Cab Guru, added: “Our partnership provides fleets with a network which will enable them to protect their position in a highly competitive market. At the same time, and whichever part or parts of our company they work with, operators are of course entirely free to choose the technology and platforms that are right for their businesses.”

Walsall backs

By creating a single, integrated provider of all necessary platform and technology services for the industry, CabFusion aims to create a unified virtual pool of fleets – all working together through a national network, delivering an improved product and service. This will greatly reduce dead mileage for drivers and the integration will deliver a better customer experience for passengers, characterised by shorter wait times and pickups as promised.

Both companies already have a strong presence in London and other key strategic towns and cities across the UK, and the new partnership aims to generate genuine nationwide coverage.

At the time of the deal, CabFusion supports fleets with a combined total of 15,000 vehicles nationwide. Crucially, the infrastructure for building a single, virtual pool of fleets is system-agnostic by design, able to connect fleets running any fleet management system through API connectivity – which means operators using other dispatch systems such as Autocab, iCabbi or Cab9 should be able to plug into the CabFusion system.

The company stresses that data will not

Lanes

Mark Bursa

Walsall Council has backed a call to allow private hire vehicles to use bus lanes in the town in a bid to reduce congestion. The move would bring it into line with neighbouring Wolverhampton, which allows PHVs into the bus lanes.

Walsall Council now plans to consult with the West Midlands Enhanced Bus Partnership about a change in rules which would give private hire vehicles the same rights as hackney carriages.

Councillors argued successfully that the amendment would help cut congestion, enhance services and reduce pollution. The cabinet unanimously agreed to engage with the partnership on whether it is likely to be agreed before moving ahead to a formal application.

Cllr Amo Hussain said: “There is a strength of feeling this would assist them in securing more passengers as be shared. In a statement, it said: “Although the companies are coming together under the CabFusion holding company, customers of both Cordic and Canb Guru businesses can be assured that their data will remain as safe and secure as it always has been.”

Idris Davies, Chief executive officer of Cordic, said: “I’m really excited about this deal. Of course, the services that both companies provide to current clients will remain unaffected.”

“Where the great future potential lies is in our infrastructure, connecting fleets running on any underlying operating system. CabFusion’s vision for the long-term future of the industry puts all the power in the hands of the operators, who are free to decide how they run their business, including which platforms and software services are right for them. We’ve done this deal to better serve the interests of independent operators across the country.” they are constantly held up in traffic jams, much of which has been created by Transport for West Midlands in securing free movement for buses but to the detriment of all other road users.”

CabFusion is inviting further investment from across the industry, alongside committed investment from existing shareholders. This is designed to reinforce CabFusion as a business owned by independent operators, working with their interests front and centre – not purely a tech company. This new investment will fund product, platform, and service development for both Cab Guru and Cordic, engagement with the industry, and sales and marketing.

He added: “I know Wolverhampton allow private hire vehicles to use bus lanes and this was before the enhanced partnership arrangements were put in place. I trust the cabinet will agree to consult with the relevant partners to secure this change.”

Deputy leader Adrian Andrew said: “I think it’s fair to say it was a controversial issue. If we can get the approval of the enhanced partnership which we need to consult with then I think it would be a sensible move to allow this to happen.”